Apple is experimenting with a new form of wristwatch, according to the latest reports to emerge from Cupertino.
The New York Times carries the claims from “people familiar with the company’s explorations.” Such a watch would apparently be formed from curved glass, with Apple having a unique “understanding of how such glass can curve around the human body.”
This Apple Watch would run on the same iOS as can be found in the iPhone 5 and iPad Mini, though presumably heavily modified.
Interestingly, The Wall Street Journal is also carrying claims that back-up this report, stating that Apple has discussed the production of such a device with its Chinese manufacturing partners.
As the original report points out, the technology is certainly in place for such a futuristic device. Just last year, Corning – the company behind the Gorilla Glass that makes its way into most top smartphones – developed something called Willow Glass.
This highly flexible glass can be bent at will without shattering, and the company’s chief technology officer Pete Bocko even went so far as to spell out the kind of application this could have: “if I tried to make something that looked like a watch, that could be done using this flexible glass,” he said.
However, as Bocko points out, it remains “one of the toughest mechanical challenges” thanks to the unpredictable way in which the human body moves.
What do you think about the prospect of an Apple iWatch? Would you want to wear one, or has your smartphone replaced the need for one? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
